Debates of March 16, 2004 (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement about March being the month to recognize aboriginal languages, my question is to the Premier, the leader of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I’d like to know what the Premier is doing in terms of the government in the direction of all the departments that he works with in terms of strengthening and respecting our languages in the Northwest Territories, especially in the Sahtu where our older people have the access to speak freely in their languages, rather than to run around and look for translators here and there. In all departments our people, it seems, have to always wait for a translator. I guess the question for the Premier is what are you doing to direct your Ministers to ensure that all the aboriginal languages are easily used in the communities?

Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll refer that question to the Minister responsible for official languages. Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 7-15(3): Access To Aboriginal Language Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the previous government responded to the 65 recommendations of the Special Committee on Official Languages in 2003 and one of the responses was the passing of the new Official Languages Act. One of the things that will be happening by July 1st of this year is there will be an aboriginal languages revitalization board established and the purpose of that board will be to maintain, promote and revitalize NWT aboriginal languages. I will also, by July 1st, be announcing the establishment of an official languages board which would advise myself on issues related to the provision and administration of the Official Languages Act. We are also right now in the process of developing a framework for the creation of an official languages secretariat to support the two boards.

We’re moving this year to set up these two boards to provide advice to this government on how we can better revitalize and protect aboriginal languages. That’s in terms of an overall, government-wide response to official languages.

The Member talked in his statement today about the importance of understanding your own culture and language in order to be successful, and that is certainly reflected in the philosophy of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as well. One of the goals is to make sure that schooling is available in all the communities in the first language of that region. So we are working with the divisional educational councils and ECE to help provide resources to make sure that can happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(3): Access To Aboriginal Language Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask the question again to the Premier. He may refer me to the Minister. However, Mr. Speaker, the other part of my Member’s statement has to do with the culture and we have a lot of people from outside the Sahtu that come into the Sahtu from the southern parts of Canada to work in their profession such as policing, nursing, teachers, social workers and other workers that come into the Sahtu region. I want to know what the government is doing to support those workers in terms of doing some cross-cultural training. There are some agencies doing it voluntarily, some doing it in terms of it being good for the people. Is there any policy or mandate that people who come into a small community do a cross-cultural training or is it done just on a voluntary basis? I wanted to ask the Premier that question in terms of what this government is doing to support cross-cultural training.

Again, I’d just like to remind Mr. Yakeleya, you’re dealing with a different subject. You started off with languages, now you’re talking about cross-cultural matters. It is sort of a new question, but I will allow the Premier to take the question. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 7-15(3): Access To Aboriginal Language Services

Mr. Speaker, without doing a survey of all of the departments in the government and all the boards and agencies that carry out work on our behalf, I can’t be 100 percent accurate. But most of the government departments, for example, Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment and so on, do have their own cross-cultural training programs. For example, the Dogrib Community Services Board or education board takes the teachers out on the land and they spend a number of days out. I think the same is true with the Department of Health and Social Services. They do training with their employees that are going to small communities. With the RCMP there is a lot of training that goes on. I’m not sure if it’s required or if it’s one that they do voluntarily. The private sector is another matter. I think there it’s up to a decision that’s made by each employer. Our government would not have the authority to require everyone to provide cross-cultural training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(3): Access To Aboriginal Language Services

I apologize, Mr. Speaker, for using my questions up. I will keep it to language this time. Mr. Speaker, the language programs are key to the survival of the aboriginal people in our communities and I want to let the Minister responsible for language know that I want to keep in close contact in terms of the availability of our languages in the Sahtu region and in other small communities. I am not too sure if I am going to end up with a question here, Mr. Speaker, I think it is just a comment so I apologize.

The question is directed to the Premier, Mr. Handley.

---Applause

Further Return To Question 7-15(3): Access To Aboriginal Language Services

Mr. Speaker, I didn’t hear a question so I can’t answer when there is no question. Thank you.

Ohhhh.